Maybe a little bit offtopic, but... Haven't you ever wondered why in the 21st century there are still countries that have anti-porn laws? I mean, "normal", "traditional" heterosexual porn. Check this out:

Apparently, no less than 2 dozen countries around the world make porn illegal. Now how can this ever be explained - like you cannot watch on a screen what you actually do every day? That's absurd. Now, I think I can make a guess - just look closer at those dark red countries. With very few exceptions, those are countries that don't really favor democracy or their people's well-being, but rather carry out tyrannies of one man, or a limited group of men. Obviously, those tyrants need total control over people, and a mechanism to prevent them from realizing that they're better off without the dictatorship. And as both Freud and Orwell wrote, sexuality is human's strongest instinct. So, control over people's sexuality gives them control over people, so they speak. Now, I may be right or wrong, but I think the "gay issues" in many countries have similar background.

ЗЫ: English summary of what I tried to say in Russian -- I really meant to make fun of American gays, not Russians (even though the character "Volk the Dog" uses a few Russian words, which I may have gotten wrong!). So please don't get upset, прошу вас!

ROBERT: Hi, everybody, I'm Rob, and I like men in THAT way. Now, how do YOU think that Volk The Dog ought to respond to Mermaid Hello Kitty in this situation? Hmmm....
DOG:[громко рыдая] Is VERY mean of you to tell me, that God I don't believe in will send me to pretend fires of non-existent Hell because I'm gay!

DOG:[сопливым голосом] Also, is peoples like YOU who make "Эль-Гэ-Бэ-Тэ" teenagers listen all time stupid emo/goth music and cut themselves!

DOG: Hmmm, you know what I think, in my opinion? Maybe, if two angels who go to house of Lot were to take form of beautiful girls, and then Men of Sodom come and try to heterosexually gang-rape nice young ladies, then MAYBE, God would nuke Sodom anyways?
[аудио из Моцарта, по-немецки: "Glory, fortune, joy, and fame!"]

Apparently, no less than 2 dozen countries around the world make porn illegal. Now how can this ever be explained - like you cannot watch on a screen what you actually do every day? That's absurd. Now, I think I can make a guess - just look closer at those dark red countries. With very few exceptions, those are countries that don't really favor democracy or their people's well-being, but rather carry out tyrannies of one man, or a limited group of men. Obviously, those tyrants need total control over people, and a mechanism to prevent them from realizing that they're better off without the dictatorship. And as both Freud and Orwell wrote, sexuality is human's strongest instinct. So, control over people's sexuality gives them control over people, so they speak. Now, I may be right or wrong, but I think the "gay issues" in many countries have similar background.

Err... a lot of those countries seem pretty religious (China being an obvious exception). Isn't a more likely explanation for the restrictions is that they believe porn is a sin?

I seriously doubt there are many dictators worried that porn will lead to the people realizing that they are better off without a dictatorship.

Exactly how would this work? So people would watch porn and then...? I don't understand your reasoning.

I have not made to much progress with the language (I have made some).

To be honest, learning languages is something I struggle a lot more with compared to other areas of study.

However, while trying to learn Russian I became very interested in Russia as a place. So I have learned a lot about Russian politics and government. I find it really interesting. It is also the sort of thing I find quite natural to learn about.

Err... a lot of those countries seem pretty religious (China being an obvious exception). Isn't a more likely explanation for the restrictions is that they believe porn is a sin?

I seriously doubt there are many dictators worried that porn will lead to the people realizing that they are better off without a dictatorship.

Exactly how would this work? So people would watch porn and then...? I don't understand your reasoning.

Heh, no. Dictators think that they know better, what is useful for people and country, they cultivate their ideas, and does not tolerate other opinions. So, if porn isn't part of their system of values, they prohibit it.

Err... a lot of those countries seem pretty religious (China being an obvious exception). Isn't a more likely explanation for the restrictions is that they believe porn is a sin?

I seriously doubt there are many dictators worried that porn will lead to the people realizing that they are better off without a dictatorship.

Exactly how would this work? So people would watch porn and then...? I don't understand your reasoning.
Heh, no. Dictators think that they know better, what is useful for people and country, they cultivate their ideas, and does not tolerate other opinions. So, if porn isn't part of their system of values, they prohibit it.

Okay, that could very well be the reason.

However, this does not explain Eric Cs view that the dictators prevent people from watching porn to stop them from overthrowing him or her.

So, control over people's sexuality gives them control over people, so they speak.

However, this does not explain Eric Cs view that the dictators prevent people from watching porn to stop them from overthrowing him or her.

How does control over porn (by banning it), prevent uprisings?

From what I've studied, tyrannies often rely on control of people's sexuality as a way of zombifying people. If they can tell everyone how/how often/with whom to f*ck, that will ultimately make ppl more "obedient", satisfied with any BS they're given, and less likely to ever consider strikes or uprisings. Typically, that sort of agenda includes a total ban on porn.

From what I've studied, tyrannies often rely on control of people's sexuality as a way of zombifying people.

It's very common theory, however I don't believe in that. I think, dictators are not so clever, they are just people, who wish impose their world view and lifestyle on all people, and when someone follows by another way, dictators fly into a rage. So, it's not question of sexuality, it's question of control and power.